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In a significant legal triumph, a solicitor, once a hopeful parliamentary candidate, secures an apology and substantial damages from The Times after an inaccurate article led to his resignation. Jerry Hague, a former partner at Graysons, faced false allegations of professional misconduct, impacting his political career.

Jerry Hague, a solicitor and former Labour Party candidate, has emerged victorious in a legal battle against The Times. The newspaper inaccurately reported that Hague had been found guilty of professional misconduct for misleading sick ex-miners seeking compensation. The article referenced a £5,000 fine imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2010.

However, the reality, as revealed in the statement made in court during the settlement, was quite different. The fine was a result of the firm’s partners’ admissions related to the failure to follow professional practice rules on advice adequacy provided to clients. The SDT explicitly stated that Graysons, and by implication Mr. Hague, did not act unethically, provided a high level of professional service, and their failures could be excusable in a different context.

The false article had a devastating impact on Hague, leading to his resignation as the Labour Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the Bolsover constituency. Despite informing the party about the SDT sanction, he was left with no choice but to step down.

The Times, acknowledging its error, issued a sincere apology to Mr. Hague for publishing false allegations. In response, Hague, currently working as a charity coordinator, expressed his belief that the article was politically motivated to destroy his candidacy. He expressed satisfaction that the true picture has now been acknowledged.

Source: Former miner claims specialist wins apology and ‘substantial damages’ from The Times | Law Gazette

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